HC3 Lite expansion: upgrade to HC3 with Zigbee or stay with Z-Wave for best integration?

[copderoc 1]

Hello everyone,

I currently have a Fibaro system installed at home with around 17 devices, all of them Z-Wave (mostly Fibaro and some Qubino). The controller I’m using is a Fibaro Home Center 3 Lite, and so far everything has been working fine.

I’m now in the process of extending my house and I’m planning to add approximately:

• 3 roller shutters

• 5 switches

• 3 led dimmers

My main question is which approach would be more recommended in the medium and long term:

1. Upgrading the controller to a Home Center 3 and starting to introduce Zigbee devices, which are generally more affordable.

2. Keeping the Home Center 3 Lite and continuing to expand the system using only Z-Wave devices (Fibaro / Qubino) to ensure maximum integration and stability.

I’m especially wondering whether it makes sense to start using Zigbee now, considering it might be “the future”, or if, within the Fibaro ecosystem, it’s still better to stick with Z-Wave even if the cost is slightly higher.

As an additional detail, my plan is to install the actuators inside recessed junction boxes with more space, rather than behind the wall switches, as space behind the mechanisms is often very tight and in several locations I don’t have a neutral wire available.

I would really appreciate your recommendations and experiences, especially from anyone who has done a similar transition or is running mixed Z-Wave / Zigbee setups with Fibaro.

Thank you very much! 😀

[SmartHomeEddy 1,008]

You have almost answered your question yourself. You only have to choose between maximum integration and stability and more affordable. That is something others can't do for you, we don't know how deep your pockets are. You might just spend the savings of a HC3 on extra z-wave devices (with respect to the limits of the HC3L). 

 

I choose for z-wave. 

[awlieser 21]

I would suggest you switch to HC3. You‘re right - the Zigbee stuff is cheaper (especially when procured from China directly). However, I‘ve tinkered a bit with Home Assisstant and Zigbee devices for a couple of weeks - integration into HASS is outstanding, but reliability leaves to be deserved. Z-Wave is way more reliable and stable. Just my two cents … and Happy New Year 🍾

Edited December 31, 2025 by awlieser

[MAC71 11]

Zigbee on HC3 is still tagged as "BETA" all these years later. Some Zigbee devices work fine and others don't work at all

[SmartHomeEddy 1,008]

Zigbee as a “standard” will always be some kind of beta. 

[copderoc 1]

Thanks for your fast replies, i think i will buy z-wave devices for now, and later I will upgrade the HC3L to HC3.

Edited January 1 by copderoc

[cag014 732]

If price is not a concern, then the HC3 is definitely the best choice; the other controllers are more limited.

[Sankotronic 2,370]

Also z-wave devices are more reliable than zigbee. i have only z-wave devices and from 100 installed I had to replace only few of them in last 10 years due to failure. 

[cag014 732]

18 hours ago, Sankotronic said:

Also z-wave devices are more reliable than zigbee. i have only z-wave devices and from 100 installed I had to replace only few of them in last 10 years due to failure. 

Absolutely agree, but Zigbee excels when it comes to range, mesh strength, and device variety. The market is full of Zigbee devices, and they’re usually far cheaper than Z‑Wave. Even if you buy something that turns out to be incompatible, the financial loss is tiny.

In addition, there are plenty of Zigbee‑only devices that simply don’t exist in Z‑Wave.

• A good example is the multi‑gang wall switches available only in Zigbee. Some models offer up to 10 channels, often without requiring a neutral wire. By comparison, Z‑Wave typically provides only 1–2 channels, and you still need to find a way to route a neutral through the wall — something that’s simply not possible in many older homes.
• Another great example is the Zigbee radar (mmWave) motion sensors. They’re far more sensitive than traditional Z‑Wave PIR sensors and can even detect presence during sleep, micro‑movements, and occupancy in difficult environments. Z‑Wave PIR sensors often struggle in hot or humid rooms — for instance, a bathroom during a shower — where they may fail to trigger at all. Zigbee radar sensors don’t have that limitation and offer a much more reliable experience.
• Battery‑powered Zigbee devices also tend to achieve significantly longer runtimes compared to their Z‑Wave equivalents — often differing by several months under similar usage conditions.

 

So for many real‑world scenarios, Zigbee gives you options that Z‑Wave just can’t match.

 

I’m running 20 Zigbee devices (65 children) and yes — once a month something goes wrong. But honestly, that’s mostly on the HC3 Zigbee engine, which is still not fully mature. For the flexibility and price point, it’s a small price to pay.

Fibaro recently added power monitoring for Zigbee wall switches, and I’ve installed several — including one for my boiler — and interestingly, these particular switches have been very stable even in the HC3 Zigbee environment.

See Zigbee status for last 23 days- no single drop-disconnect

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Edited January 30 by cag014